Saturday, March 3, 2012

Growing

These boys... these wacky boys of mine...


just won't stop growing...


Which, of course, is as it should be...


But still tugs at my heart strings, because...


one day they were bouncing off the walls with an energy level that would make an over-caffeinated squirrel wish he had more enthusiasm...


and the next day they're turning into young men.


Growing in their abilities, their independence, their intelligence, and their maturity.

 

Which, of course IS the goal we're working toward, but still...

You can understand that it's a bit bittersweet.

And lately I've seen the most change in this one.

Mr. Tate.

My Tater-bug.
My Tater-tot.
My sweet po-Tater.

Which I am still allowed to call him in the privacy of our home,
but nowhere else, at his kind request.


This young man gets himself up every morning at six.  He goes downstairs and reads his Bible, and studies his CAP materials, and does his exercises.  Without anyone telling him to.

Isn't he handsome?


And you know what he did?  Just a couple weeks ago he finished
reading all the way through the entire Bible.
I'm so proud of him!  Sure he didn't understand it all.  Do you?  But he's learning.  

So last night we had a little party.  Grandpa and Grandma came, and Aunt Tami.  (Uncle Dave and Allyson being unavailable.)  And we celebrated Tate.  We're all excited about the Cochlear Implant - I think it will change his life

But I know what is already changing his life.   Whether he hears wonderfully or eventually goes profoundly deaf, he'll be all right.  He has placed himself in good hands, and he's growing and maturing in his faith.

Hebrews 5:13-14 says

Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant,
is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness.
But solid food is for the mature,
who by constant use have trained themselves
to distinguish good from evil. 

 That's why I'm so proud of my Tater :D

4 comments:

Felicity said...

You have every right to be proud of him, and he IS very handsome!

I fully understand the bittersweet feeling of kids growing... sometimes I wish I could just freeze them for a while.

I love the first photo - too cute!

Ruby said...

It is always a wonder to hear of a youth who has entrusted his life to the Lord. All of your boys are handsome!

The dB family said...

You just had to make me cry! I am so blessed to know you and your sweet family.

Btw, that photo of your three handsome boys in their ties always makes me laugh.

Blessings and prayers!
Deborah

Rebecca D said...

Thank you for raising men, not boys... So many people today are raising kids, and that seems to be what they end up with, kids... It is hard to do what we are parents are called to do... To raise them to be adults... It is bittersweet, but as it should be. "Train up your child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." (proverbs 22:6) I know you know this verse well, but it holds a promise to us parents. You are doing an amazing job with these young men. It shows even from a far!